4 per cent increase in noise levels this Diwali

Contrary to most of the reports and stats about Diwali in Hyderabad, that had said that the city would witness a silent Diwali this year due to various online campaigns and awareness among the urban lot, the noise levels recorded at 11 locations in Hyderabad and Secunderabad by the Telangana State Pollution Control Board noted that there has been a four per cent increase in the noise levels compared to last year.

The noise levels were recorded in decibels (dBA) units. Out of 11 locations it, noise levels of nine locations were recorded online. These locations include Abids, Gachibowli, Kukatpally, Tarnaka, Paradise, Jeedimetla, Zoo Park, Panjagutta and Jubilee Hills. The two locations that were monitored manually were Pragthinagar and Uppal.

Commercial Zone in Abids recorded an increase compared to 2013, whereas Paradise and Panjagutta have recorded a decrease in noise levels compared to 2013. Residential Zones in Pragathinagar and Jubilee Hills recorded higher values than 2013, while Industrial Zones in the same vicinity showed decrease in noise levels. Nehru Zoological Park, which is often the Silent Zone, showed an increase of one unit in noise level.

Over all, the city’s average during 2013 was 71 decibels while in 2014 it crossed 74.4 decibel. The percentage increase in noise levels in 2014 compared to 2013 is 4 per cent.